French Ambassador to Zimbabwe Laurent Delahousse says the abduction of Occupy Africa Unity Square activist and former journalists Itai Dzamara three weeks ago is a bad development in the country and government must do everything in its power to find and free the activist.
In an interview during the launch of French company, Motul, operating in Zimbabwe last night, Mr. Delahousse said the government must be seen to be protecting its citizens as required by the constitution.
He said Dzamara must be allowed to continue his work and look after his family.
Despite protests, petitions and even a High Court order for the state to find Dzamara. His whereabouts are still unknown.
Ambassador Delahousse further said lack of clarity on the country’s indigenization law compelling foreign-owned companies to transfer an equity stake of 51 percent to locals blocking external investment.
He said clarity on this issue will see foreign companies flocking to Zimbabwe.
The ambassador said it was somehow strange that Zimbabwe’s indigenization law is being misunderstood when such polices in other countries like China are not being questioned.
Motul is a world class French company which specializes in the formulation, production and distribution of high-tech lubricants and products for passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles and marine engines.
It also produces lubricants for industrial consumption.
A few weeks ago, another French company Limagrain invested $60 million in Zimbabwe seed company, Seedco, to develop and improve the quality of their products across Southern Africa.
French quality control company, Bureau Veritas, three weeks ago signed a contract with the Zimbabwe government to do the quality certification of imports. This will prevent sub-standard goods from entering the country.
